3 Pinoys on Malaysian flight not yet identified: DFA

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that three Filipinos were among those on board Malaysian Airlines flight MH-17 that crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday.

DFA Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said they have not been identified since the airliner has yet to release passenger names.

Jose said the Philippine embassies in Malaysia and The Netherlands will help families identify the remains and repatriate the bodies.

"Our embassy in Malaysia, as well as our embassy in the Netherlands, both of them are coordinating closely with concerned authorities, as well as with Malaysian Airlines, to be able to secure more information. At the same time, we can give the assurance, especially to the families of the victims that our embassies are prepared to extend all necessary assistance," Jose said.

The plane, believed to have been shot down by a surface-to-air missile, killed all 298 people on board.

The loss of MH-17 is the second disaster for Malaysia Airlines this year, following the mysterious loss of flight MH-370 in March, which disappeared with 239 passengers and crew on board on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Reports from ANC and Reuters